Proceedings of the 2025 3rd International Academic Conference on Management Innovation and Economic Development (MIED 2025)

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Spatial Evolution and Regional Disparities Measurement and Decomposition of Green Development Efficiency in China’s Eight Economic Zones

Authors
Yanling Tang1, Ningning Wang2, Hao Ding1, *
1School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China
2Weifang Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center, Weifang, 261061, China
*Corresponding author. Email: B18080004@s.upc.edu.cn
Corresponding Author
Hao Ding
Available Online 17 September 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-835-6_60How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Green development efficiency (GDE); Super-efficiency SBM Model; Eight economic zones; Theil Index
Abstract

This study analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution of green development efficiency (GDE) in China’s eight comprehensive economic zones from 2011 to 2021. Using an improved Super-SBM Data Envelopment Analysis model that includes undesirable outputs, the study measures regional GDE accurately. The Theil index is used to assess and decompose regional disparities within and between these zones. Results show that GDE increased nationwide, with clear spatial differences: central China leads, followed by eastern, and then western regions. The Middle Yellow River zone experienced the most significant improvement, reaching the highest efficiency by 2021. Eastern China, the Middle Yangtze River, and Northwest zones lag behind with considerable potential for growth. The Theil index indicates that overall regional disparities in GDE have declined, mostly due to shrinking differences within regions. However, since 2019, disparities between regions have slightly increased. Northern China has the largest internal efficiency gap, mainly because of uneven provincial development. Policy recommendations include improving national green policies, increasing investments in green technology and industry, and enhancing regional collaboration tailored to local strengths. These actions can help achieve more balanced and sustainable green development across China’s diverse economic zones.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2025 3rd International Academic Conference on Management Innovation and Economic Development (MIED 2025)
Series
Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research
Publication Date
17 September 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-835-6
ISSN
2352-5428
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-835-6_60How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Yanling Tang
AU  - Ningning Wang
AU  - Hao Ding
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/17
TI  - Spatial Evolution and Regional Disparities Measurement and Decomposition of Green Development Efficiency in China’s Eight Economic Zones
BT  - Proceedings of the 2025 3rd International Academic Conference on Management Innovation and Economic Development (MIED 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 564
EP  - 574
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-835-6_60
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-835-6_60
ID  - Tang2025
ER  -